tutkii

Focus areas of research at the University of Helsinki

The criteria for the University’s focus areas of research include high quality as substantiated in international evaluations, social significance and emerging fields contributing to scientific progress in their disciplines.

Faculties, departments and independent institutes have defined their own key focus areas, which they present in their target programmes and action plans. These key areas are reviewed annually.  

The basic structure, materials and natural resources of the physical world

This focus area encompasses materials- and energy-related chemistry, physics, nano research and research on geological processes as well as CERN activities.
The national centres of excellence in this focus area include the following:

The basic structure of life


This focus area encompasses genetics research, systemic biology and biotechnology.
The national centres of excellence in this focus area include the following:

The changing environment – clean water

This focus area encompasses atmospheric and climate change research, research on the effects of climate change, research on the Baltic Sea and its drainage basin as well as other environmental research within the biosciences, arts, social sciences and law.

The national centres of excellence in this focus area include the following:

The thinking and learning human being

This focus area encompasses brain research, learning research, research on linguistic interaction and research on education and innovation.

The national centres of excellence in this focus area include the following:

Welfare and safety

This focus area encompasses research focusing on the production and safety of food and medicines.
The national centres of excellence in this focus area include the following:

Clinical research

This focus area encompasses clinical translational medicine, personalised medicine and clinical veterinary medicine. The Meilahti Campus accommodates six research programmes that integrate clinical and basic research.

Precise reasoning

This focus area encompasses mathematics and information sciences as well as their applications in other fields.
The national centres of excellence in this focus area include the following:

Language and culture

This focus area encompasses research on identities, cultures, legal cultures and religions as well as research on Finnish culture and the changes taking place under the pressure of multiculturalism.
The national centres of excellence in this focus area include the following:

Social justice

This focus area encompasses research on the fairness of the legal system, the Nordic welfare state, ethnicity and ethical systems.
The national centres of excellence in this focus area include the following:

This focus area has also one Nordic Centre of Excellence : Justice through education in the Nordic countries (JustEd)

Globalisation and social change

This focus area encompasses social research on globalisation and locality as well as European studies and Russian Studies.
The national centres of excellence in this focus area include the following:

Research at the university of Helsinki
Doctoral education
Publications
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